3 simple ways to implement new security tech in the workplace

95% of IT and Security professionals feel their company is likely (very or somewhat) to invest in new visitor management solutions over the next year. This is important, not just because they streamline the sign-in process, but because they make your office more secure.

We partnered with Wakefield Research to survey 1,000 U.S. IT and Security professionals who are responsible for technology impacting physical security, data, and network elements. We found that while visitor management solutions have many benefits, some companies are concerned about introducing new technology and processes at work.

Despite the general consensus that visitor management solutions are worth investing in, many teams are wary of introducing them to their company. Most (85%) anticipate barriers to implementing visitor management solutions, especially getting employees to follow new procedures (48%) and skepticism around available technology solutions (47%).

If you’re worried about bringing new security tech into the workplace, here are three methods IT and Security experts have found useful:

Communicate openly about the new workplace technology you want to implement

Be open and fully transparent with employees who will be most affected by the changes you want to make. Make sure they know why the changes are being made, how it will fully benefit them, and be prepared to answer any questions they may have.

Erin Merchant, Workplace Technology Success Manager at Envoy, supports this strategy. “Openness is a really successful path to effective security. Some physical institutions don’t have that flexibility. But I like to give people an experience that doesn’t feel restricted. I want people to feel a sense of ownership around their security. This involves education and transparency—a consistent dialogue about what our policies are and why they’re in place,” she explained.

Take the time to educate your company about the new technology’s benefits

The best way to make employees comfortable with new workplace security technology is to educate them. Explain the threats your new methods protect against and take the time to teach them how to use the new tools or follow the new policies. Setting up discussions around security education early can lead to policies that are proactive, not reactionary, which makes threats easier to tackle.

Understand that change is hard for some people and be open to mistakes

It’s important to be empathetic during these transitions. While change is necessary and inevitable, it can be an uncomfortable process for some. Create a safe place for employee questions and accidents. When it comes to security, you want to make sure employees feel like they can admit when something has gone wrong, so you can get ahead of issues as they arise and mitigate the risks.

Erin enjoys the benefits of creating a safe space for her colleagues. “I don’t reprimand people for fudge-ups when it comes to security. If people feel comfortable coming to me right when a problem arises, I’ll have less I need to do, because we’ve had an open conversation.”

Download the full Workplace Security Report: 2020 Security and Safety Trends to get ahead of the physical dangers and digital threats your workplace faces every day.

Download the report